Page 32 of Kidnapped By the Beast
Brandt’s temper snapped as his desperate fear for her overflowed into anger.
“By using your head!” His golden eyes blazed as he glared down at her. “You could have been killed, Alexandra—torn to pieces in seconds. Do you understand that?”
“Of course I understand!” She swiped at her eyes, her tears slowing. “I never meant for that to happen. I…I didn’t think?—”
“No, you didn’t,” he cut her off, his voice low and fierce. “You ignored a clear warning sign. You risked your life for a moment’s curiosity. And you nearly paid with your life.”
Her chin lifted suddenly, defiance sparking in her tear-reddened eyes.
“Well, excuse me for not knowing all the rules around here. It’s not like I got a briefing on Terian wildlife before we came here—you kidnapped me and dragged me here against my will! So I don’t have to justify a Goddamn thing to you.”
His jaw clenched so tight it ached. He had comforted her, worried for her, and now she dared to defy him? He wasn’t going to tolerate her “sass” as the humans called it for one minute more!
“Don’t you dare dismiss this as if it were nothing!” he growled. “You took ten years off my life, Alexandra. Watching you scream from that tree—thinking I might not reach you in time…”
His chest heaved, the image of her screaming and clutching the slender top of the tree flashing again in his mind.
You will not risk yourself like that again. In fact, I don’t think you should come outside again without me to keep you safe.”
“You can’t keep me a prisoner in there and only take me out to…to milk me!” Her arms crossed over her chest, her wet cheeks still flushed with anger. “I’ll go out whenever I want. And what are you going to do about it—lock me in my room?”
“No—I don’t think that would be an effective punishment,” Brandt said flatly. His decision crystallized in that moment. If she wouldn’t listen to reason, then he would make certain she learned through experience.
Before she could move, he scooped her up again, cradling her against his bare chest. She let out a startled cry, pounding her fists against his shoulder. “Hey! What are you doing? Let me down—I can walk!”
“No,” he said shortly, ignoring her struggles. His bare feet padded silent and sure over the mossy path as he strode up the metal bridge toward their chambers. “You’re not going anywhere until you’ve learned your lesson.”
Alexandra twisted in his arms, her breasts pressing against his chest, her hair tangling against his chin.
“Brandt! I mean it—put me down!”
“That’s Doctor Brandt or Sir to you.” He tightened his grip, glaring at her. “Enough. You’ve proven you can’t be trusted to keep yourself safe. That ends now.”
She glared up at him.
“You can’t just—just carry me off like I’m a child!”
He looked down at her, frowning fiercely.
“It’s true, you are not a child. But you behaved like one. And until you learn not to put yourself in mortal danger, I will treat you as such. I refuse to watch you risk your life again because you can’t resist touching something that looks ‘sweet and harmless.’ There are many dangerous in this universe that present that way—you must learn to stay away from them. ”
Her lips parted, her cheeks burning with equal parts outrage and embarrassment.
“You’re insane,” she hissed. “And this is a total overreaction.”
“Perhaps,” he growled, his arms tightening possessively around her trembling body. “But you are alive. And you’ll stay that way. Even if I have to keep you safe myself.”
Her struggles weakened, though her eyes still sparked with fire. Brandt kept walking, every stride steady, his bare chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His anger hadn’t cooled—it simmered, sharp with fear and the knowledge of how close he had come to losing her. And beneath it all, something else had taken root, fierce and undeniable.
Alexandra wasn’t just a test subject…she wasn’t just a means to an end.
She mattered.
16
LEXI
Lexi squirmed in Brandt’s arms but it was like fighting a wall. His muscles were like iron and the harder she struggled, the more solid his hold on her became.
